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Review
. 2024 Dec 23;5(2):223-230.
doi: 10.1021/acsmaterialsau.4c00107. eCollection 2025 Mar 12.

Hallmarks of Polymersome Characterization

Simon Matoori  1
Affiliations
Review

Hallmarks of Polymersome Characterization

Simon Matoori. ACS Mater Au. .

Abstract

Polymersomes have the potential to become the next generation of vesicular drug delivery systems. Their high chemical versatility and in certain cases higher membrane stability than liposomes raised the high hopes for polymersomes as a drug carrier, but the clinical translation has been slow. To jump-start translation, there is a need for meticulous characterization and reporting of key parameters of polymersome formulations. Regulatory authorities have provided valuable insights on critical quality attributes of liposomes in their guidance document on liposomal nanosimilars. Inspired by this guidance document, this Perspective proposes necessary characterization of polymersomes (hallmarks) regarding their chemical composition, physicochemical properties, drug release profile, stability, stimuli responsiveness, and pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author declares the following competing financial interest(s): S.M. is a co-inventor on two patent applications related to ammonia-sequestering and ammonia-sensing polymersomes. Two papers related to this technology are cited in this article.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Scientific publications and major trends in the polymersome field over the last 30 years. Number of published articles on polymersomes since 1995 according to Pubmed (search terms: polymersome, polymersomes, polymeric vesicle, polymeric vesicles in Title/Abstract).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Hallmarks of polymersome characterization. The nine hallmarks include the block copolymer composition (structure, molecular weight, polydispersity index), impurities, polymersome morphology, surface charge, surface functionalization, drug loading and release kinetics, stimuli responsiveness, stability, and pharmacokinetics and biodistribution.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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